What's new

Learn about new features and updates for IBM Spectrum Protect Plus Version 10.1.

Release	New features and updates
V10.1.1 Patch 1	Enhance the protection of Oracle databases by enabling more frequent recovery points You can use Oracle backup jobs to back up Oracle logs files. In this way, you enable point-in-time restore operations. This feature provides more frequent recovery points and enhances Oracle database protection. For more information, see Creating an Oracle restore job. Protect SQL Server system databases to vSnap Microsoft SQL Server system databases such as the master database can be backed up to vSnap and recovered by using the Instant Access restore type. This feature broadens the scope of SQL Server protection with IBM Spectrum Protect Plus. For more information, see Creating a SQL Server restore job. Back up and restore SQL Server 2017 databases Backup and recovery of Microsoft SQL Server 2017 databases is supported in stand-alone configurations on Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows Server 2016 operating systems. This feature extends protection for SQL Server. For system requirements, see technote 2013789. Back up and restore encrypted virtual machines Backing up and restoring encrypted VMware virtual machines is supported in vSphere 6.5 and later environments. Encrypted virtual machines can be backed up and restored at the virtual machine level to their original location. This feature provides an additional layer of data security. For more information, see Backing up and restoring VMware data. Restore VMware data directly to VMware ESX hosts Service level agreement (SLA) policies are available to restore data to a VMware ESX host directly, regardless of whether vCenter is available. The VMware restore job destination option ESX Host if vCenter is down is provided for this feature. For more information, see Creating a VMware restore job.
V10.1.1	Protect Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle databases You can back up and restore SQL Server and Oracle databases with IBM Spectrum Protect Plus. For both SQL Server and Oracle Database, full restore and Instant Access scenarios are supported. In addition, for SQL server, you can use the log backup feature for continual backup of transaction logs to a specified destination. For more information, see Backing up and restoring SQL Server data and Backing up and restoring Oracle data. Generate reports for supported application databases Reports are now available that provide insight into the state of your backup operations for database applications. With these reports, you can review the protection status of your supported application databases, the backup history of application databases, and the Recovery Point Objective (RPO) compliance status of databases as defined by their SLA Policies. For more information, see Protection reports and System reports. Asynchronously replicate backup data from one vSnap server to another IBM Spectrum Protect Plus supports backup storage replication, which enables asynchronous replication of backup data from one vSnap server to a secondary vSnap server. This feature provides additional protection and configuration flexibility. For more information, see Establishing a replication partnership for a vSnap server. Create user roles with associated permission groups and resource groups The role-based access control feature is enhanced to streamline the process of creating, revising, or discontinuing roles as the needs of the data protection enterprise evolve. Predefined roles are included for commonly performed tasks. The role-based access control feature is enhanced to streamline the process of creating, revising, or discontinuing roles as the needs of the data protection enterprise evolve. Predefined roles are included for commonly performed tasks. For more information, see User access. Register VADP Proxies through the user interface The VADP proxy installation and update are enhanced. VADP proxies can now be registered by using the IBM Spectrum Protect Plus interface. Similarly, when updates to the VADP proxy software are made available, they can be installed by using the VADP proxy pane in IBM Spectrum Protect Plus. New configuration options allow you to set the transport modes to be used by the VADP proxy, the compression type, and the log retention schedule. For more information, see Managing VADP backup proxies. Run scripts before or after jobs The ability to upload scripts to be run at the job level is supported. Scripts can be executed before or after backup and restore jobs run. Scripts enable you to extend the features and benefits of IBM Spectrum Protect Plus. Supported scripts include shell scripts for Linux-based machines and batch and PowerShell scripts for Windows-based machines. For more information, see Configuring scripts for backup and restore operations. Search for, filter, and expire recovery points The capability to search the IBM Spectrum Protect Plus catalog to review available recovery points is enriched. You can filter recovery points by the associated backup job name and creation date. Additionally, you can expire recovery points by using the Catalog Retention pane. This feature enhances control of backup inventory and of recovery operations. For more information, see Managing restore points in the catalog. Filter VMware resources based on tags Tags allow you to attach category metadata to objects to make these objects more searchable, sortable, and filterable. In IBM Spectrum Protect Plus, tags are applied in vSphere, and the metadata gets assigned to virtual machines. Sorting, searching, or filtering by category is enabled. For more information, see Backing up and restoring VMware data. Filter audit logs by description and date Filtering options are introduced for the IBM Spectrum Protect Plus audit log. With this feature, you can filter the audit log by specific action descriptions and date ranges during which the action was performed. For more information, see Collecting audit logs for actions in IBM Spectrum Protect Plus. Exclude resources from backup job definitions Virtual machine and application resources can now be excluded from backup jobs. The Exclude Resources option allows you to enter exclusion patterns and wildcards to remove specific resources from backup job definitions. This feature can help you improve backup efficiency and specificity. For more information, see the individual hypervisor and database backup topics under Backup and restore operations. Protect non-volatile random-access memory (NVRAM) files When you back up a VMware virtual machine, the backup now includes the NVRAM file, which stores the state of the BIOS software for the virtual machine. View REST API development guides Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) define the criteria and protocols underlying IBM Spectrum Protect Plus. These enable the various hardware and software components to interact. You can extend the capabilities of the IBM Spectrum Protect Plus application by developing scripts that utilize the APIs. To access the IBM Spectrum Protect Plus REST API Guide, click the user icon from any window in the user interface. A separate guide is provided for vSnap APIs. Access the application through the IBM Cloud IBM Spectrum Protect Plus is available as an IBM® Cloud for VMware Solutions service, IBM Spectrum Protect Plus on IBM Cloud. IBM Cloud for VMware Solutions enables you to integrate or migrate your on-premises VMware workloads to the IBM Cloud by using the scalable IBM Cloud infrastructure and VMware hybrid virtualization technology. For more information, see IBM Spectrum Protect Plus on IBM Cloud.

Release

New features and updates

V10.1.1 Patch 1

Enhance the protection of Oracle databases by enabling more frequent recovery points: You can use Oracle backup jobs to back up Oracle logs files. In this way, you enable point-in-time restore operations. This feature provides more frequent recovery points and enhances Oracle database protection. For more information, see Creating an Oracle restore job.
Protect SQL Server system databases to vSnap: Microsoft SQL Server system databases such as the master database can be backed up to vSnap and recovered by using the Instant Access restore type. This feature broadens the scope of SQL Server protection with IBM Spectrum Protect Plus. For more information, see Creating a SQL Server restore job.
Back up and restore SQL Server 2017 databases: Backup and recovery of Microsoft SQL Server 2017 databases is supported in stand-alone configurations on Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows Server 2016 operating systems. This feature extends protection for SQL Server. For system requirements, see technote 2013789.
Back up and restore encrypted virtual machines: Backing up and restoring encrypted VMware virtual machines is supported in vSphere 6.5 and later environments. Encrypted virtual machines can be backed up and restored at the virtual machine level to their original location. This feature provides an additional layer of data security. For more information, see Backing up and restoring VMware data.
Restore VMware data directly to VMware ESX hosts: Service level agreement (SLA) policies are available to restore data to a VMware ESX host directly, regardless of whether vCenter is available. The VMware restore job destination option ESX Host if vCenter is down is provided for this feature. For more information, see Creating a VMware restore job.

V10.1.1

Protect Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle databases: You can back up and restore SQL Server and Oracle databases with IBM Spectrum Protect Plus.; For both SQL Server and Oracle Database, full restore and Instant Access scenarios are supported. In addition, for SQL server, you can use the log backup feature for continual backup of transaction logs to a specified destination.; For more information, see Backing up and restoring SQL Server data and Backing up and restoring Oracle data.
Generate reports for supported application databases: Reports are now available that provide insight into the state of your backup operations for database applications.; With these reports, you can review the protection status of your supported application databases, the backup history of application databases, and the Recovery Point Objective (RPO) compliance status of databases as defined by their SLA Policies.; For more information, see Protection reports and System reports.
Asynchronously replicate backup data from one vSnap server to another: IBM Spectrum Protect Plus supports backup storage replication, which enables asynchronous replication of backup data from one vSnap server to a secondary vSnap server. This feature provides additional protection and configuration flexibility.; For more information, see Establishing a replication partnership for a vSnap server.
Create user roles with associated permission groups and resource groups: The role-based access control feature is enhanced to streamline the process of creating, revising, or discontinuing roles as the needs of the data protection enterprise evolve. Predefined roles are included for commonly performed tasks.
The role-based access control feature is enhanced to streamline the process of creating, revising, or discontinuing roles as the needs of the data protection enterprise evolve. Predefined roles are included for commonly performed tasks.; For more information, see User access.
Register VADP Proxies through the user interface: The VADP proxy installation and update are enhanced. VADP proxies can now be registered by using the IBM Spectrum Protect Plus interface. Similarly, when updates to the VADP proxy software are made available, they can be installed by using the VADP proxy pane in IBM Spectrum Protect Plus. New configuration options allow you to set the transport modes to be used by the VADP proxy, the compression type, and the log retention schedule.; For more information, see Managing VADP backup proxies.
Run scripts before or after jobs: The ability to upload scripts to be run at the job level is supported. Scripts can be executed before or after backup and restore jobs run. Scripts enable you to extend the features and benefits of IBM Spectrum Protect Plus. Supported scripts include shell scripts for Linux-based machines and batch and PowerShell scripts for Windows-based machines.; For more information, see Configuring scripts for backup and restore operations.
Search for, filter, and expire recovery points: The capability to search the IBM Spectrum Protect Plus catalog to review available recovery points is enriched. You can filter recovery points by the associated backup job name and creation date. Additionally, you can expire recovery points by using the Catalog Retention pane. This feature enhances control of backup inventory and of recovery operations.; For more information, see Managing restore points in the catalog.
Filter VMware resources based on tags: Tags allow you to attach category metadata to objects to make these objects more searchable, sortable, and filterable. In IBM Spectrum Protect Plus, tags are applied in vSphere, and the metadata gets assigned to virtual machines. Sorting, searching, or filtering by category is enabled.; For more information, see Backing up and restoring VMware data.
Filter audit logs by description and date: Filtering options are introduced for the IBM Spectrum Protect Plus audit log. With this feature, you can filter the audit log by specific action descriptions and date ranges during which the action was performed.; For more information, see Collecting audit logs for actions in IBM Spectrum Protect Plus.
Exclude resources from backup job definitions: Virtual machine and application resources can now be excluded from backup jobs. The Exclude Resources option allows you to enter exclusion patterns and wildcards to remove specific resources from backup job definitions. This feature can help you improve backup efficiency and specificity.; For more information, see the individual hypervisor and database backup topics under Backup and restore operations.
Protect non-volatile random-access memory (NVRAM) files: When you back up a VMware virtual machine, the backup now includes the NVRAM file, which stores the state of the BIOS software for the virtual machine.
View REST API development guides: Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) define the criteria and protocols underlying IBM Spectrum Protect Plus. These enable the various hardware and software components to interact. You can extend the capabilities of the IBM Spectrum Protect Plus application by developing scripts that utilize the APIs. To access the IBM Spectrum Protect Plus REST API Guide, click the user icon from any window in the user interface. A separate guide is provided for vSnap APIs.
Access the application through the IBM Cloud: IBM Spectrum Protect Plus is available as an IBM® Cloud for VMware Solutions service, IBM Spectrum Protect Plus on IBM Cloud.; IBM Cloud for VMware Solutions enables you to integrate or migrate your on-premises VMware workloads to the IBM Cloud by using the scalable IBM Cloud infrastructure and VMware hybrid virtualization technology.; For more information, see IBM Spectrum Protect Plus on IBM Cloud.